Locomotive stoker



Aug. 25, 1936. N M, LOWER 2,051,956v

LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Original Filed May 2, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 um 1m @El Aug. 25, 1936. N. M.- LowER LOCOMOTIVE STOKER 2 sheets-snaai 2 Original Filed'May 2, 1930 /m/E/Yro/e Cil Patented ug. 25., 1936 UNITED STATES nciaims. (cl. 19841115) This invention pertains to mechanical locomotive stokers and has for one of its objects the improvement in the construction of the portion of a stoker between the locomotive and tender.

In present locomotive stoker constructions wherein the stoker comprises a troughrigidly mounted on the tender and an elevator conduit rigidly mounted on the locomotive, the trough and elevator conduit are both universally jointed to a. flexible intermediate conduit, and in order to transferV fuel through the Stoker a plurality of conveyor screws are connected by a series of universal joints. The coal is greatly pulveriaed by the rotating of these universal joints with the vresult that a1 large amount' of the fuel is drawn through thelocomotive stack unburned It is a further object .of this invention tov construct such a stoker; that is, one having a fixed trough, a xed elevator conduit andai-legible intermedi# ate conduit, so as toieliminate'the universal joints between the conveyor screws, in order thata relatively coarser grade of coal Will be delivered to the locomotive rebox, thus obtaining more eco-1- nomical firing. r A l Another object of my invention'is to mount the stoker engine Vin a novel location where there is ample space to' facilitate repairing.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction will be apparent during the course of the following description and appendedfclai'ms taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is avertical longitudinal'sectional view of a portion of a locomotive and Itender with the invention shown in elevation applied thereonand having parts thereof broken away.

Fig. 2 is avvertical-sectional` view'of the rear end of the conveyor' trough or transfer conduit and illustrates the gearing.

Fig. 3 is a part sectional View showing the stoker engine mounting in detail.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the locomotive and tender and. illustrates the construction of the stoker between the locomotive and tender.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view takenion line 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing the relationshipof the stoker parts when the locomotive and tender are on a straight track.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, similar to Fig. 5, illustrating the relationship of the stokerk parts when the locomotive and tender are on a curved track.

Fig. '7 is a sectional-.viewtaken on line 1 1 ofFil. Y ,-v

' Fig.: 8 is a sectionalview taken on .line 8--8 o'f'Fig..4.` y iy L Figf. 9 .is a sectional. View .taken 0f Fig. 1.

vIn` Figure 1, the nuineralll designates the'loco- 5 motive;"2, the vrebox; 3, the firing opening; .4, the grates; 5, the 'cabi 6, the locomotive' frame; 1, the tender.; 8, `-the'coal bunker; and 9, the water storage compartment. The stoker comprises four-main unitsvorconduits, namely; the 101 conveyor trough or transfer conduit I0, which is rigidly mounted'in the tender; an elevator conduit `II,:which 'is rigidlymo'unted on the 'locomotive; an intermediate conduit or spout, which makes'communication between the transfer conl-5 duit lil' and the elevator conduit I I; and the horizontal ired'oor conduit 60; l

The transferscondu'it I 0 is mounted in .the tender' to forni aportion of the surface of the water 'compartment 9.2 The' outwardly extending 2O flange' I3.at the top of the transfer conduitand theoutw'ardly extending ange' I4 atthe front of the transfer conduit are secured'v to .the Vtender deck l5 and frntsheet I6 respectively, making water=tightfjoints. conveyor screw I1' extends 25 the fulllength ofthe transfer fc'onduit and into the rearzportion ofthe spout I2. xIt is driven' at its rearend through gearing in 'the gear case I8 bythe engine I9. Heretofore,..stoker driving' engines. have been mounted beneath the locomo- 30 tive'decky or beneath? the tenderf deck and'there is not ample space around the engineto permit ready. repairing, fpiping up, mounting, etc. For this reason 1I li'avepositioned the' engine I9 on the Vtop of. the tender' and provided Vaninclined 35 shaft. 20 between'itand :the gearinginv the gear case-I8. '"The''sl-iaft 2ll'is' arranged to'A rotate in a y ppeiIl iThe lower'. end-'ofthe' pipe 2I is screwed into thegearcase I8l tol make' a water-tight fit and' iszmad'efwatertight a'tfitsiupper end with -40 the top sheet'y 22' of the tender 'by suitable packing 23.r The shaft 20 is connected to the crank shaft" of theengirie. I9' by' gearing 24. Bracirig 2 5 prevents the' weiglitLof the engine from sagging the-top `she'et22.11"l v f L *u V- 45 Toobtain theflrequired's'peed of thefccnveyor screw Y.I1afseresffif "gear'eductiois1 is insertedlifn' the power transmitting? mechanism' between it and the'engine;fthe'` gear 28 on thei Ysl'iaftVZll is largerthanfthe nion 29onf the crank shaft 50 ericetl'ieA gearing 2'4V reduces vI r-tle engine' IS-"and tl'iellhaftY 20. 3I"on the bottompf `shlftf2` is bevelf gear g3v2 on the interim-ll on line 9;!)

mates-naft- 331ml the gear case-,thus reducing the 55V speed between the inclined shaft 29 and the intermediate shaft 33. The pinion 34 on the intermediate shaft 33 drives the gear 35 on the shaft 36, which is secured to and rotates the conveyor screw I1. Near the bottom of the gear case is a shaft 31 having a gear 38 thereon in mesh with the intermediate pinion 34. Coupled to the short shaft 31 is a rigid shaft 39 extending along the under side of the transfer conduit I0, the full length of the conduit. The shaft 39 is also provided with a water-tight casing in a manner similar to that previously described; that is, by having it rotate in a pipe 40, which is screwed in the gear case I8 at its rear end 4I to make a water-tight t and is welded, at its forward end 42, to the transfer conduit making a water-tight joint. The shaft 39 is universally jointed at 43 to a shaft 44. The shaft 44 comprises the two telescopic sections 45 and 46. The shaft 44 is universally jointed at 41 directly to the elevator screw 48. It is necessary .to have the shaft `44 flexibly mounted and telescopically extensible to' provide for the relative movement of the locomotive with the tender as they travel on curves. The rear end of the screw 48 is provided with a spherically shaped disc 49 which'rotates and fits snugly in the spherically shaped socket 50 at the bottom of the elevator conduit II, and prevents coal from leaking out of the conduit around the universal joint 41. This disc 49 constitutes the sole journal of the screw 48 at its driven end and forms with the socket 50 the sole bearing means for the screw 48 at its driven end.

I have found by making layouts on numerous locomotives that in order to obtain enough space to insert the spout I2 betweenv the transfer conduit I0 and the elevator conduit II and make a practical construction, it is necessary to provide a rearwardly offset recess 5I at the forward end of the transfer conduit and have the flexible connection between the spout and transfer conduit in the recess. If this flexible connection were forward of the recess there would not be sufricient space to insert the spout. The recess 5I is formed by the flange 52 which extends outwardly from the transfer conduit near the forward end thereof, the forwardly extending ange 53, and the outwardly extending ange I4 which is riveted to the front sheet I6. The transfer conduit I0 and the flanges 52, 53 and I4 are all cast integral, thus numerous water-tight connections are unnecessary.

The spout I2 is attached to the transfer conduit by a vertical pivot pin 55. Loose contact at the pivot 55 permits slightvertical movement of the spout. It willbe noted in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings that the plan view of the flexible connection 54 between the spout and transfer conduit is somewhat of a ball and socket joint in order that the spout may swing transversely.

The rear end of the elevator conduit Il is open at its top to Vreceive fuel downwardly from the spout I2. '-I'he spout is supported at its forward end on the rearwardly extending flange 56 of the elevator conduit, `and it is arranged to slide longitudinally and laterally on this flange as the locomotive negotiates curves. The sides 51 and 58 of the elevator conduit (Fig. 8) slope outwardly providing clearance 59 at each side of the spout between the spout and the sides, to allow lateral movement of the spout on the ange 56. The pivotedA connection between the spout and transfer conduit is substantially in vertical alignment with the universal joint 43 and the slidable contact between the spoutand elevator conduit is substantially in vertical alignment with the universal joint 41 to make a neat and practical construction. In Figure 9 it will be seen that the cross-sectional shape of the spout at its rear end is square, and in Figure 8 it will be seen that the cross-sectional shape at the forward end is rectangular. By having the width of the spout at the forward end greater than the height installations can be made on many types of locomotives without greatly raising the height of the decks.

In operation, the coal falls from the bunker 8 into the transfer conduit I0. The screw I1 conveys it through the transfer conduit and the rear portion of the spout I2 and forces it through the remainder of the spout where it falls by gravity into the rear of the elevator conduit I I, which is immediately beneath the forward end of the spout. The elevating screw 48 delivers the coal to the horizontal redoor conduit 60 and forces it through the conduit 60 to the scattering table 6I from which it is discharged over the grates 4 `by fluid jets (not shown). Making the part of the stoker at the firing opening 3 horizontal and forcing the fuel therethrough by the elevator screw 48, instead of conveying it directly to the scattering table 6I permits the use of a smaller firing opening. The sides 62 of the conduit 68 prevent coal from coming in contact with the sides of the firing opening. The forward parts 63 of the sides 62 can be hinged, and controlled by the fireman, to vary the positioning of the coal on the table 6I from one side to the other to obtain a level re.

As the locomotive travels on a curve the rela-V tive movement between the locomotive and tender is partly compensatedby the flexible connection 54 between the spout and transfer conduit and partly by the lateral movement of the spout on the elevator conduit.

The novel combination and arrangement in the tender, of the fuel and water sections thereof with the tender unit of the stoker, and especially that feature which contemplates the mounting of the stoker driving mechanism rearward of the stoker trough and operatively connecting the stoker fuel advancing means with the driving mechanism by means which extends through the water section, described herein and shown by the drawings herewith, has been made the subject matter of divisional application Serial No. 599,725, filed March 18, 1932.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure Aby Letters Patent, is: 5

1. In a locomotive having a tender and a backhead provided with a firing opening; a stoker comprising a transfer conduit rigidly mounted on the tender, an elevator conduit rigidly mounted on the locomotive in communication with said opening, an intermediate conduit iiexibly connected to said transfer conduit, the forward end of said intermediate conduit being above and extending to the rear end of said elevator conduit, gearing at the rear end of said transfer conduit, a screw in said elevator conduit, said screw being connected to said gearing by a rotatable sectional shaft extending along the underside of said intermediate conduit and said transfer'conduit,- the section of said shaft beneath the transfer conduit being fixed against movement laterally of the tender and the shaft -secticn beneath said intermediate conduit comprising two telescopic extensible andr contractible parts,. a universal joint connecting the first named sectionwith the 'rear part of the second nam-ed section, andE a univer-salA joint directly connecting the forward part ofthe s'ecorrd'section with the elevator screw; 5 2i In a locomotive; having a tender and a backhe'ad provided with a firing opening; a stoker comprising a transfer conduit rigidly mounted on the tender, an elevator conduit rigidly mounted on the locomotive in communication with said opening, an intermediate conduit flexibly connected to said transfer conduit, the forward end of said intermediate conduit being above the rear end of said elevator conduit and having slidable Contact therewith, gearing at the rear of said transfer conduit, ascrewA in said elevator conduit, said screwl being connected to said gearing by a rotatable shaft extendingalong the underside of said intermediate conduit andv said transfer conduit, the section of the shaft beneath the transferv conduit being fixed against movement laterally of the tender and the shaft ksection beneath said intermediate conduit comprising two telescopic parts, a universal joint connecting the rst named section with the rear part of the second named section, and a universal joint directly connecting the forward part of the second named section with said elevator screw, said transfer conduit, the elevator conduit, the intermediate conduit and the rotatable shaft all being disposed on the longitudinal median line of the locomotive and tender.

3. In a locomotive having a tender and a firebox, a stoker comprising a conduit rigidly mounted on the tender, a conduit rigidly mounted on the locomotive in communication with the firebox, a spout flexibly connected in end to end relation with the first named conduit and arranged to move universally therewith, the forward end of said spout being immediately above and extending to the rear end of the second named conduit, the width of the forward end of said spout being greater than the height and the sidewalls of the spout diverging outwardly from the rear to the front thereof, and conveyor screws in said stoker for delivering the fuel therethrough.

4. In a locomotive having a tender and a rebox; a stoker comprising a conduit rigidly mounted in the tender, a conduit rigidly mounted in the locomotive in communication with the rebox, a spout flexibly connected to the rst named conduit, the forward end of said spout being immediately above the rear end of the second named conduit, the cross-sectional shape at the rear of said spout being substantially square, the height of the forward end of said spout being less than the height of said rearward portion and the width of said forward end being greater than its height, and conveyor screws in said stoker for delivering the fuel therethrough.

5. In combination, a locomotive having a backhead provided with a firing opening, a tender for said locomotive, an elevator conduit mounted on said locomotive and extending forwardly and upwardly toward said ring opening, means for transferring fuel from said tender to said elevator conduit, the lower end of said elevator conduit being offset from the discharge end of said fuel transferring means, a screw conveyor in said elevator conduit receiving fuel from said means, the lower end of said elevator conduit provided with a spherical portion and the lower end only of said screw conveyor being provided with a spherical member seated in said spherical portion, said spherical portion constituting the sole bearing5 fori said conveyor screw at'I its lower end and one element of a flexible drive'l contnection extending directly` fromA the spherical member of ysafd screw outwardly of the conduit throughits sphericafportion. A

6. In combination, alocomotive having a backhead provided with a. firing opening, a tender forsaid locomotive, an elevator conduit mounted on said locomotive and extending forwardly and upwardly toward-said ri-ng opening', means for transferring-fuel 'fromV said" tender to= said ele'- vator cond-uit, the lower end' of said elevator conduit being disposed `immediatelyl below the discharge-'end off said fuelf transferring means, ascrew conveyor' in said elevator conduit receiving fuel from said-means, the lower end of said elevator conduit provided withv a spherical portier-r and" the lower end only- 'of saidv screw conveyor being provided with a sphericalfmember seated insaid spherical portion, said spherilcali portion constituting the sole bearing for' said conveyorscrewat it'slower end and one element of a exible drive connection extending directly from the spherical member of said screw outwardly of the conduit through its spherical portion.

'1. A conveying system comprising in combination a conduit having one end thereof provided with a spherical portion, and a screw conveyor rotatably mounted in said conduit, one end only of said screw conveyor being provided with a spherical member seated in the spherical portion of said conduit and one element of a flexible drive connection extending directly from the spherical member of said screw outwardly of the conduit through its spherical portion.

8. As an article of manufacture, a screw conveyor arranged to be driven from one of its ends, said driven end only being provided with a member having a spherical surface and one element of a flexible drive connection extending outwardly from the spherical surface of said member.

9. In a locomotive having a tender and a backhead provided with a firing opening; a stoker comprising a transfer conduit rigidly mounted on the tender, an elevator conduit rigidly mounted on the locomotive in communication with said opening, an intermediate conduit flexibly connected to said transfer conduit, the forward end of said intermediate conduit being offset from and extending to the rear end of said elevator conduit, gearing at the rear end of said transfer conduit, a screw in said elevator conduit, said screw being connected to said gearing by a rotatable sectional shaft extending along said intermediate conduit and said transfer conduit, the section of said shaft extending along the transfer conduit being fixed against movement laterally of the tender and the shaft section extending along said intermediate conduit comprising two telescopic extensible and contractible parts, a universal joint connecting the rst named section with the rear part of the second named section, and a universal joint connecting the forward part of the second section with the elevator screw.

10. A conveying system comprising in combination a conduit having one end thereof provided with a spherical seat, and a screw floatably and rotatively mounted in said conduit, the shaft of said screw having a spherical surface at one end only, mating with and slidably contacting the spherical seat in said conduit to provide angular movement of said screw within said conduit, said spherical seat constituting the sole bearing means for the spherical surface of said screw shaft. v v v 11. A conveying system comprising in combination a conduitA having one end thereof provided with a spherical seat, a screw oatably and rotatively mounted in said conduit, the shaft of said screw having a spherical surface at one end only, mating Vwith and slidably contacting the spherical seat in said conduit to provide angular movement of said screw within said conduit, said spherical seat constituting the sole bearing means for the spherical surface of said screw shaft, and one element of a drive connection extending from the spherical surface of said shaft outwardly of the conduit through the spherical seat of said conduit.

12. A conveying system comprising in combination a conduit, a conveyor screw floatably and rotatively mounted in said conduit, a bearing carried by said conduit at one end thereof for one end of said conveyor screw, said bearing constituting the sole journaling means for the shaft of said conveyor screw at the said one end of said screw, said bearing including a spherical surface forming a seat, and a member carried by one end only of the shaft of said conveyor screw having a mating spherical surface slidably contacting the spherical surface of said veyor having a shaft provided with a screw flight, l

flight, one end only of said shaft being provided with a member having a spherical surface constituting the sole journal portion thereof and one element of a exible drive connection extending outwardly from the spherical surface of said member.

NATHAN M. LOWER. 

